July-August 2024

A personal message from the Editor in Chief

Cleaning Out the Clutter

My wife recently taught a class for young adult women on how to keep a clean house. That might sound sexist to some, but the truth is that if a home is neat and orderly, it is likely a woman who has taken the lead in making it so. I want to borrow some information my wife presented in her class: An Indiana University research scientist “found that people with clean houses are healthier than people with messy houses.” Other researchers discovered that women “who described their living spaces as ‘cluttered’ or full of ‘unfinished projects’ were more likely to be depressed and fatigued than women who described their homes as ‘restful’ and ‘restorative.’ The researchers also found that women with cluttered homes expressed higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol” (“The Powerful Psychology Behind Cleanliness,” Psychology Today, July 11, 2016).

Maybe our mothers knew more than we thought when they told us, “Cleanliness is next to godliness.” Although many people have assumed that this proverb is found in the Bible, it is not. Nevertheless, the general principle of orderliness is. Adam was placed in a beautiful garden with the expectation that he would “tend and keep it” (Genesis 2:15)—he was to maintain its beauty rather than let it become unkempt. “And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt” (Exodus 13:18). They also set up camp in an orderly fashion (Numbers 2:1–2).

At our summer camps for teens, the Living Church of God draws upon a principle from the Apostle Paul, who taught the members at Corinth to maintain order and avoid confusion. He instructed, “God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints,” and finished with, “Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:33, 40). His immediate subject was how they conducted their services, but there is a principle here for all aspects of life: Right-minded people want order over confusion.

However, this brings up a question: Why do we see such religious chaos if God is not the author of confusion?

The Chaos of “Christianity”

Our world is sorely confused about its Creator. Hundreds of millions bow before an array of wooden, metal, stone, or plastic images that they think represent gods. Many more millions worship idols of the heart—what they have conceived as gods in their own minds.

According to projections from Pew Research, there are approximately 2.4 billion nominal Christians worldwide, 1.9 billion Muslims, 1.2 billion Hindus, and hundreds of millions in other established religions (“Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2050,” Pew Research Center, December 21, 2022). Yet, even within these religions, there is hardly uniformity. There are major and minor divisions within Islam and Judaism, but it is in professing Christianity that there is the greatest confusion. There is not even consensus on how many “Christian” denominations there are! But according to the Bible, God is not the author of confusion—so, how did we arrive at such disorder?

From the beginning, mankind has refused to accept God’s rule over His creation. When given the choice between trusting his Creator or trusting himself to determine right and wrong, Adam chose the latter, and we have followed that example through-

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out human history. The Bible chronicles mankind’s self-confidence and the results. As an example, Judges is one of the bloodiest books in the Bible, and the last verse spells out the overarching problem: When there is no overriding authority, it is each man for himself. “In those days there was no king [no central authority] in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25).

Of course, the true King is God, but He is the last authority to which man is willing to submit. As Paul explains in Romans 8:7, “the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.” The natural man, including he who claims to follow Christ, rejects God’s authority over his life. That is why the first sign Jesus gave regarding the end of the age is that of false Christianity (Matthew 24:3–4). “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many” (v. 5). There will be those who come in His name—claiming His authority—who will admit that Jesus is the Christ, but will deceive many through their message.

Spiritual Clutter

All these contradictory ideas about God and what He expects of us cannot be right, though some delude themselves into thinking so. Just as physical clutter takes a toll on the individual, so spiritual clutter takes a toll on mankind—bringing stress, confusion, wars, and lives cut short. When God instructs us not to worship Him the way the heathen do (Deuteronomy 12:29–32), people reason, “As long as we keep one day in seven, it does not matter which day we keep,” or, “As long as we do it for Jesus, it is okay that we celebrate a ‘Christian’ holy day named after a pagan fertility goddess.” And there is a multitude of other rationalizations from those attempting to get around clear doctrinal statements found in the Scriptures.

The Bible often uses a woman to symbolize a church (Ephesians 5:31–32), and God’s Church is referred to as a chaste virgin and the bride of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2; Revelation 19:7–9). But Revelation 17 introduces us to a very different kind of woman—a fallen woman referred to as the “great harlot.” She is seen riding a beast that has seven heads and ten horns. Her colors are red and purple (v. 4), she is

responsible for killing the true servants of God (v. 6), she exists among “peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues” (v. 15), and she is synonymous with “that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth” (v. 18). And if that is not enough to identify her, she has a name written on her forehead: “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH” (vv. 1–5).

The name Babylon comes from the city of Babel, where rebellious mankind sought to challenge God Himself, and in response He confused their languages to put down their rebellion and cause them to scatter across the earth (Genesis 11:1–9). Babel was also where Nimrod ruled and where he founded a mystery religion. This is where the above title comes from. But notice carefully that this fallen woman is a mother church—a “mother of harlots.” Consider what that means! She has daughters who came out of her. How amazing that some are able to identify the great harlot but fail to realize who her daughters are—and how they themselves may be associated with one of those daughters!

In contrast, the true Church of God is not a large, world-shaping organization, but is small (Luke 12:32) and persecuted. On the night in which Jesus was taken into custody to be crucified the next morning, He warned His disciples, “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also” (John 15:20). Christ also tells us, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13–14).

The day is coming when Jesus Christ will intervene dramatically in world affairs, at which time He will clean out the clutter, the confusion, and the chaos of religion, politics, and squabbles between neighbors and nations. That is the message we proclaim at Tomorrow’s World !

5 How to Escape Armageddon

“Armageddon” is not just a “scare word” used by politicians. How will it affect you and your loved ones? You need to know!

10 Seeds of Prosperity

Canada and the other English-speaking nations have been blessed with abundance that we should not take for granted.

14 The Disunited Kingdom

Loss of collective purpose has devastated the United Kingdom, which must heed ancient warnings lest it shatter completely.

16 Debunking the Rapture Myth

The “Rapture” will never happen—and you can prove it with nothing but irrefutable evidence from your Bible.

26 Grow Something

Adding agriculture to your life, even if only indoors, can bring real benefits to your family’s health—physically and spiritually!

12 To-Do and “Ta-Done”

22 Our Abnormal Normal

24 The Wrestling Match that Changed History

9 Questions and Answers

28 NewsWatch

30 Letters to the Editor

31 Television Log

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How to Escape Armageddon

Is “Armageddon” a dusty old term from your Bible, thousands of years old and irrelevant to our modern age? Or is it a sobering reality that will affect countless millions of human beings alive today—including you and your loved ones? You need to know the answer!

By Richard F. Ames

When United States General George MacArthur delivered his famous farewell address to the U.S. Congress in April 1951, current U.S. President Joe Biden was just eight years old. Donald Trump, his predecessor in the presidency, was just four years old. Yet the warning MacArthur delivered left an indelible impression that for many still rings true today, though to others it seems like ancient history.

What did MacArthur say that so stirred his listeners? After his lifetime of military service, he had seen the power—yet the ultimate futility and catastrophic consequences—of war, leading him to warn the assembled legislators, “Military alliances, balances of power, Leagues of Nations, all in turn failed, leaving the only path to be by way of the crucible of war. The utter destructiveness of war now blocks out this alternative. We have had our last chance. If we will not devise some greater and more equitable system, Armageddon will be at our door.”

On August 6 and 9, 1945—six years before MacArthur spoke those words—the U.S. had dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Na-

gasaki, resulting in nearly 200,000 deaths and the utter ruin of those cities—yet many say that these deaths of innocent civilians saved the lives of millions more who would have perished in an Allied invasion of Japan. Those two atomic bombs brought an end to World War II nearly 80 years ago.

Younger generations today may know little of that history—the suffering, the trauma, and the loss of millions of lives. Today, when they hear the word “Armageddon,” many think instead of the popular movie Armageddon, which told a tale of a Texas-sized asteroid hurtling toward planet Earth, threatening worldwide catastrophe. The movie, released in 1998, earned more than $500 million at the box office and still resonates in popular culture today.

But is that Armageddon scenario a real possibility? Consider this report at Astronomy.com, describing just one asteroid that exploded over Siberia: “On February 15, 2013, a small asteroid, perhaps measuring 20 meters across, came down over the southern Urals of Russia, barreling in at about 19 km/s, and exploded over Chelyabinsk Oblast… unleashing energy equal to about 500 kilotons of TNT, some 20 or 30 times the energy released in the Hiroshima atomic explosion” (“Why the asteroid threat should be taken

seriously,” Astronomy.com, updated January 30, 2024). Author David J. Eicher goes on to describe the dangers we face today:

The risk from asteroids impacting Earth and causing widespread damage, death, and catastrophe is real, and is present every day of our lives. But it is to a degree a counterintuitive threat, which makes it hard for some people to take seriously. The risk at any given moment is almost nonexistent, but given enough time, a catastrophic event will happen again. Do we need to worry about an asteroid strike during our next foray out to lunch? Probably not. But someday a large enough asteroid with Earth’s name on it will enter the picture, causing horror and mayhem for humanity. Unless we do something about it, that is.

Is this reality? Even your Bible describes a coming time of cosmic disturbances. “And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place” (Revelation 6:13–14).

All our modern talk about an “Armageddon” goes back to your Bible’s account of a cataclysmic battle between good and evil at the end of this age. But where will you be when that battle takes place? And what will be the outcome of that battle? The word Armageddon has come to symbolize a time of terrible destruction. But will the real Armageddon trigger the ultimate destruction of planet Earth? Or will divine intervention save those who are prepared?

Har Megiddo

As General MacArthur warned, an Armageddon will be at our door. And we know the popular media conceptions of “Armageddon.” But what does your Bible tell us about that actual time—and place? “And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon” (Revelation 16:16). The original Hebrew is Har Maggadon, or the Mount of Megiddo. The armies of the world will gather in northern Israel at Megiddo before marching south to Jerusalem.

Megiddo is located about 55 miles north of Jerusalem, “as the crow flies.” In ancient times, it guarded the main trade route between Egypt and Damascus. It also overlooks the largest plain in Israel, the Valley of Jezreel or the Plain of Esdraelon. Scripture foretells that the kings of the east will cross westward across the Euphrates River. They will meet up with other superpower armies at Megiddo.

The book of Revelation describes this gathering as the sixth of the seven last plagues. They gather at the place called in Hebrew Armageddon, then move southward to Jerusalem to fight Christ there. Notice: “For behold, in those days and at that time, when I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will enter into judgment with them there” (Joel 3:1–2).

The Valley of Jehoshaphat is between the Mount of Olives and the city of Jerusalem. It’s also known as the Kidron Valley, which extends southward for some distance. Yes, “the battle of that great day of God Almighty” (Revelation 16:14) will take place at Jerusalem. Jehoshaphat means “The Eternal has judged,” and God will judge the nations in this climatic battle. Yes, your Bible reveals the sequence of events leading up to Armageddon. The Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, revealed major prophetic signs leading up to the great climax and the end of this age. He also proclaimed a new age to come—a time we often call “tomorrow’s world,” thus the name of this magazine and our telecast. Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom of God—the good news of a coming world-ruling government. And He called on His followers to repent and prepare for that government. Christ answered His disciples’ question about the end of this present age: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14).

What signs should we watch for? And what sequence of prophetic events should we expect? Bible prophecy details the three-and-a-half-year period leading up to the end of the age. And what signals the end of this sad world of failed human governments? “Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” (Revelation 11:15).

How will the nations of the world respond to that announcement? Nations will at first reject the returned Savior. “The nations were angry” (Revelation 11:18). They will resist the divine, world-ruling kingdom and even go to war against it! The end-time

AS GENERAL MACARTHUR WARNED, AN ARMAGEDDON WILL BE AT OUR DOOR. AND WE KNOW THE POPULAR MEDIA CONCEPTIONS OF “ARMAGEDDON.” BUT WHAT DOES YOUR BIBLE TELL US ABOUT THAT ACTUAL TIME—AND PLACE?

superpower called the “beast” in the book of Revelation—the last revival of the Roman Empire, supported by ten kings or kingdoms—will fight a futile war against the coming King of kings:

The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful (Revelation 17:12–14).

Preparing for World War III?

The book of Revelation reveals a sequence of major battles of World War III. Consider the ninth chapter: Massive armies east of the Euphrates River deploy powerful weapons in an exchange that destroys a third of earth’s population. The Apostle John records this prophetic vision: “I saw the horses in the vision: those who sat on them had breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone. By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed—by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which came out of their mouths” (Revelation 9:17–18).

Are military forces even now preparing for World War III? Tomorrow’s World subscribers are aware of major military developments. The cover of our April–May 2023 magazine featured this question: “Has World War III Already Begun?” Editor in Chief Gerald Weston cited several individuals stating that, in a very real sense, World War III has already begun. He quotes the Roman Catholic pope, Francis, who said, “‘For me, today, World War III has been declared. This is something that should give us pause for thought. What is happening to humanity that we have had three world wars in a century?’” (“Sleepwalking into World War III”).

Mr. Weston concluded his article, “We are moving from gradually to suddenly. Is this not what the prophet Isaiah recorded for our rebellious world? ‘Because you despise this word, and trust in oppression and perversity, and rely on them, therefore this iniquity shall be to you like a breach ready to fall, a bulge in a high wall, whose breaking comes suddenly, in an instant’ (Isaiah 30:12–13).”

Today’s nations are increasing their nuclear capabilities. Nine nations around the world are confirmed to have nuclear weapons. They are Russia, the United States, France, China, the United Kingdom, Israel, India, Pakistan, and North Korea. The combined power from these weapons could destroy all human life on earth several times over. The pattern of history is that whenever mankind creates a new weapon of devastation, it is used until it has done all the damage it can do. But if this happens with nuclear weapons, the human race will suffer total annihilation!

Sixty Years of Danger

Are world leaders concerned about the many threats and dangers that face us? In October 2022, U.S. President Joe Biden commented on Russia’s threat to use tactical nuclear weapons: “We have not faced the prospect of Armageddon since Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis,” he said. “Vladimir Putin… is

not joking when he talks about the potential use of tactical and nuclear weapons, or biological or chemical weapons…. I don’t think there’s any such thing as an ability to easily lose [sic] a tactical nuclear weapon and not end up with Armageddon” (“Remarks by President Biden at Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Reception,” WhiteHouse.gov, October 6, 2022)

October 2022 marked the sixtieth anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis, a time when the whole world was facing a potential Armageddon. On that anniversary, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists made this sobering announcement: “Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its nuclear saber-rattling have roused the nuclear war genie, with the word ‘Armageddon’ creeping into general discussion during the 60th anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis. That 35-day crisis (Oct. 16–Nov. 20, 1962) remains a definitive moment in United States national security history and was the general public’s first up-close-and-personal introduction to the real possibility of nuclear war” (October 26, 2022).

If you are old enough to remember the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, you remember facing the frightening reality of what seemed to be a real Armageddon. At that time, I was a young man fresh out of college, having also served a brief stint in the U.S. Army before God called me into His Church. The fears I faced were shared by millions of others. If you are too young to have experienced that time, you might want to ask your parents or grandparents about it and what it was like for them.

Face Reality

Dear readers, we need to face reality! Billions of human beings on earth will die as war, hunger, and disease spread over the planet. Yes, we will face the extreme danger of human annihilation. The fourth seal of Revelation pictures the four horsemen combining their powers. The world will suffer the deaths of massive numbers of men, women, and children.

The Apostle John, who wrote the book of Revelation under God’s inspiration, saw in vision the famous four horsemen of the Apocalypse. They symbolize, in order, false christs and false religion, war and its devastating effects, the famines that normally follow on the heels of war, and the pestilence and disease

that follow famine. The Apostle John writes, “So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth” (Revelation 6:8).

The fifth seal, as we read in Revelation 6:9, reveals a martyrdom of Christians during the tribulation period of about two-and-a-half years. Then we read about the sixth seal, which introduces the time of God’s wrath and judgment on the nations. The sixth seal is referred to as the Heavenly Signs.

I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place (Revelation 6:12–14).

These heavenly signs, as they are called, introduce the Day of the Lord—the time of God’s wrath and judgment on an unthankful, rebellious world. Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, will be wrathful. He’ll execute God’s righteous judgments. The Day of the Lord is called “the great day of His wrath” (Revelation 6:17).

A Time of Wrath and Judgment

The Day of the Lord will bring God’s judgments on the nations. Let’s understand: There are three prophetic milestones leading up to Christ’s return. They are the Great Tribulation, the Heavenly Signs, and the Day of the Lord. These three events cover a period of about three-and-a-half years.

There are over thirty prophecies in your Bible referring to the Day of the Lord. Isaiah 34:8 and Isaiah 63:4 show that the Day of the Lord in end-time prophecy, the time preceding the Second Coming, is a period of one year! You might want to write down those references.

Scripture describes the returned Christ’s great heavenly army descending to the earthly Armageddon battleground: HOW TO ESCAPE ARMAGEDDON CONTINUES ON PAGE 13

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Who were the giants, really?

Question: In a few places, the Bible mentions “giants,” like Goliath. Who—or what—were they? Were they human beings, or were they something different? Do they still exist?

Answer: The Bible tells us that people of giant physical stature lived both before and after the great Flood of Noah’s day (Genesis 6:4; Deuteronomy 2:10–12, 20–23). After the Flood, giants appear in the Bible as descendants of Ham’s son Canaan; they were living in the land of Canaan when Moses sent agents to spy out the land (Genesis 10:6; Numbers 13:1–2, 32–33).

Og, King of Bashan, was the last recorded giant east of the Jordan River (Joshua 12:4; 13:12). After Joshua’s conquest of Canaan (Joshua 11:21–22), a few giants continued living in the Philistine cities of Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod. These giants terrorized the Israelites from the time they entered into Canaan until late in the reign of King David. One of those giants was Goliath, whom David killed (1 Samuel 17). King David and his “mighty men” also encountered other giants (2 Samuel 21:16–22;1 Chronicles 20:4–8).

Some point to a passage in Genesis to suggest that these giants were the offspring of angels who procreated with human women: “Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose” (Genesis 6:1–2).

However, it is important to recognize that although God sometimes does call angels His sons (Job 38:7), the Genesis 6 description of “sons of God” cannot refer to angels, because angels were created as spirit beings. Each angel was brought into individual existence complete, without the need or the ability to reproduce.

As spirit beings, angels cannot procreate with human beings. We know this from Jesus Christ’s own words, as He described what happens when mortal human beings are born as spirit beings at the resurrection: “Jesus answered and said to them, ‘The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are

given in marriage; nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection’” (Luke 20:34–36; cf. Matthew 22:30; Mark 12:25).

Human Beings—Just Bigger

Only God the Son, who has all creative power, has ever crossed the gap between spirit and flesh, which He did when He was born as Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:7). In fact, to say that an angel can produce a child in the world is potentially blasphemous, since the Bible describes only God as producing a Son through the miraculous pregnancy of Mary, as well as a future family of sons through the Work He and His Son are doing in the Church that Christ founded (Luke 1:35; Romans 8:16–17).

To say that an angel can produce a child in the world is potentially blasphemous, since the Bible describes only God as producing a Son through the miraculous pregnancy of Mary.

Who, then, were the sons of God mentioned in Genesis 6? They were powerful and famous men whose offspring, before the Noachian Flood, became famous in their time. Many Bible scholars believe that they could have been among the offspring of Seth, but Scripture does not tell us specifically. Another important detail we should notice is that Scripture does not say that the giants originated from the unions described in Genesis 6; rather, the giants already existed at that time. “There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them” (Genesis 6:4).

These giants did not survive the Noachian Flood. The existence of other giants was noted after the Flood, but even they disappear from the biblical accounts after the time of King David. In any case, Scripture gives no indication that these giants were anything other than large human beings who will share in the same ultimate destiny as all other human beings. TW

Oh Canada! Seeds of Prosperity

One hundred years ago, a significant majority of Canada’s population lived in agricultural areas. Today, like so much of the West, we find our society at least 90 percent urbanized. As a result, relatively few understand the work required to produce food, and thus fail to appreciate the importance of that work. Agricultural needs have become a very low priority for voters and politicians alike.

History reveals, however, that failures in agricultural production have resulted in the overthrow of many governments. For example, the crop failures of the late 1780s in France are considered a driving factor behind the French Revolution. The production of fruit and vegetables, milk and cheese, cattle and poultry, and especially grains, are truly at the core of a nation’s prosperity and security.

Over the past century, the English-speaking world has experienced surplus food production, even in times of war. Arguably, this is a major factor in the continuance of the wealth, power, and influence of those peoples—yet this was not always the case.

New World, New Wheat

In the early 1800s, the Great Plains of western Canada and the northern United States were being evaluated for their potential in agricultural production, especially with regard to grains. At that time, in regions of the land that is now known as Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and the Dakotas, crop failures were frequent due to violent summer storms, hail, and all-too-common early frosts.

As new settlers came from Europe to the northern plains, they began to plant their most precious pos-

session—good wheat seed. This was the case with one of the very first attempts at agriculture on the Great Plains: the Red River Settlement, founded in 1812 by Lord Selkirk and his colonists from the Scottish Highlands. The colonists endured many daunting hardships such as early frost, leading to several crop failures between 1812 and 1820.

Throughout that region, farmers were using a number of varieties of seed that was all European in origin. The length of time this seed took to reach maturity made it well suited to Europe’s climate, but presented a problem in the shorter summers of Canada, specifically on the northern plains. In those days, a crop failure could spell famine and starvation. A solution was needed.

Enter David Fife, a farmer in Peterborough County, Upper Canada (today Ontario) who, between 1842 and 1848, developed a variety of dark red wheat that became known as Red Fife. Because of its earlier maturity and excellent milling and baking quality, it had by 1876 become the dominant variety in Canada and much of the United States. While no longer grown extensively, Red Fife is still in demand among artisan bakers due to what bread experts view as its superior flavour and baking characteristics.

While Red Fife was an improvement, there was still a need for a high-quality wheat variety with a shorter growing season. Existing early-maturing varieties had lower yields and poor milling properties before Dr. William Saunders radically changed the face of agriculture in Canada and the American Northwest. In 1886, Ottawa appointed Saunders to direct the new Dominion Experimental Farms. His sons, most

notably Charles Edward Saunders, became supporting researchers.

Over a six-year period of meticulous and painstaking crossbreeding experiments on wheat seeds from all over the world, a massive amount of information was collected, identifying characteristics of natural crossbreeding such as colour, milling and baking qualities, stem strength, and height—all compared to maturing time. By 1901, after 15 years of exhaustive work, including the failure of several large-scale plantings, they had produced 58 unique varieties. Yet none combined all of the desired qualities, and many observers felt that their work was in vain and should be discontinued. Yet Saunders and his sons persisted.

Their breakthrough came in 1904 when a variety was produced by crossing Red Fife (the male parent) with Hard Red Calcutta (the female parent). The result was a wheat that carried all of the properties that had originally been sought, and boasted a maturation time that was shorter by at least ten days—an absolutely vital quality. It was named Marquis wheat and is now the ancestor of most modern wheat varieties.

The first large field sowing of Marquis wheat occurred in 1909. In 1913, the first shipment of registered Marquis seed into the U.S. was a 100,000-bushel delivery. As early as 1915, Marquis wheat was becoming the dominant wheat in Canada and much of the United States’ northern plains.

Wheat for the World

What Saunders and his sons achieved led to a massive reduction in the crops lost to early frost and established the northern plains as one of the world’s great

breadbaskets, with the new wheat strain making the region a much more secure source of continuous wheat production.

The timeliness of Saunders’ work—and that of his partner scientists—was particularly evident at the commencement of World War I in 1914. The Canadian Prairies were able to provide Britain and France with massive increases in a high-quality staple food. In fact, historians are quick to point to this as a key contributing factor to the Allies’ victory in both World Wars. “Marquis wheat greatly enhanced the war effort of not only Canada, but also that of its allies, the UK, France, Belgium and Greece” (George Fedak, “Marquis Wheat,”

The Canadian Encyclopedia, March 4, 2015).

The development of Marquis has led to the ongoing development of wheat varieties that can better withstand drought, disease, and other threats to a global food supply. “Marquis has left a permanent legacy. It has been shown that virtually every wheat variety produced in Canada over the past 100 years traces back to crosses made with Marquis” (Canadian Encyclopedia). Truly, Dr. Saunders and his sons should be remembered with gratitude for their invaluable contribution.

It is also worth noting that the modern descendants of ancient Israel—of which Canada is a part— were promised that they would possess lands that would produce incredible bounty in both plants and animals, and that this blessing from God would continue unabated if they were obedient to God’s commands (Deuteronomy 28:1, 11–12). That these blessed lands went on to produce seemingly limitless quantities of nutritious food is not an accident and should be greatly appreciated rather than taken for granted. Even the efforts of dedicated researchers, agronomists, and farmers to produce such a bounty has been a great asset granted to this people. But these blessings were not given out of favoritism; they were intended to facilitate these nations’ fulfillment of an even greater purpose.

To learn more about the reasons behind this generous gift from God, please go online to TomorrowsWorld.org or contact the Regional Office nearest you (listed on page 4 of this magazine) to read or request a free copy of our inspiring and revealing study guide The United States and Great Britain in Prophecy

Stuart Wachowicz

A wheat field in central Alberta, Canada

TO-DO AND “TA-DONE”

Are you accomplishing the tasks Christ has set for you?

Who hasn’t seen a to-do list of some kind—on the wall, on a desk or refrigerator, or in a silly cartoon with characters hustling to get things done? Many have found their daily life or work dictated by a growing list of little checked boxes, in their heads if not on paper or a spreadsheet. And, quite often, the “ta-done’s” don’t seem to catch up to the “todo’s” as quickly or efficiently as we might like.

Most of us make lists of things we need to accomplish in our busy lives. We have appointments to keep, projects to finish, tasks to do, and calls to make. We have classes, assignments, meetings, seminars, chores, and projects of all kinds. We may employ paper calendars and organizers, or we may use electronic tools to help us organize and prioritize our efforts to get more done in less time.

The fulfillment of many prophecies concerning the “last days” and the endtimes is on the horizon. God will accomplish His stated tasks and add them to His “tadone” list.

Most of us enjoy the sense of accomplishment and satisfaction of crossing a completed item off a list. Huge projects with multiple tasks are especially rewarding when done.

We can then say, “Ah! It is finished.” It makes us feel good— for a little while, at least, until we look again at our growing list of new tasks to be done. We might sigh and say to ourselves, “So much to do, so little time!”

It is marvelous and inspiring to see what God has completed—His list of ultimate “ta-done’s.” His projects and plans are literally universal in scope. For instance, God created the heavens and the earth in the beginning. He said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness” (Genesis 1:26). In Genesis 2, we see that God finished those tasks on the sixth day and rested on the seventh, and “God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it,” setting it apart (v. 1–3).

God also did a great work in bringing the Israelites out of Egypt (Exodus 14:31). Another supremely

important task, completed by Jesus Christ, was His act to save us from our sins. The Messiah was crucified, and as He was dying, “He said, ‘It is finished!’ And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit” (John 19:30). That great task was completed for our salvation.

God’s List—and Ours

There are so many other things God has done that could be mentioned, but the Bible also shows us what God will yet do. It is inspiring to consider what remains on God’s “to-do” list. Unlike us frail, procrastination-prone humans, God guarantees what He will do. He says, “Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it” (Isaiah 46:11).

We can read about the awesome things God will yet do in the end-times, especially when Jesus Christ returns to establish the Kingdom of God on earth, putting an end to war, crime, hunger, disease, homelessness, drug addiction, and catastrophes of all kinds. Satan, the evil ruler of this present world, will be deposed and imprisoned (2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 20:2–3). Ignorance and false knowledge will be replaced by truth. God will fill the earth with knowledge of His way. These “to-do’s” will then become “ta-done’s”!

An important consideration for us is what is on our “to-do” and “ta-done” lists. Are we following Jesus Christ obediently? Will He be able to say to us, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord” (Matthew 25:21, 23)?

The fulfillment of many prophecies concerning the “last days” and the end-times is on the horizon. God will accomplish His stated tasks and add them to His “ta-done” list.

More on this topic is available in our free study guides, such as Prophecy Fulfilled: God’s Hand in World Affairs, Understanding Bible Prophecy, and The Beast Of Revelation: Myth, Metaphor, or Soon-Coming Reality?—all of which are available at TomorrowsWorld.org and can also be requested from the Regional Office nearest you, listed on page 4 of this magazine.

—Roger Meyer

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS (Revelation 19:11–16).

Dear readers, what side will you choose when the day of judgment comes? Will you choose to be on the side of the King who will come to rule the earth and bring it lasting peace? As we just saw, faithful Christians will follow Christ: “those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful” (Revelation 17:14).

The masses of humanity will be deceived and will follow the “beast” of Revelation and the false prophet who supports the beast’s anti-Christ rulership. But your Bible reveals the encouraging truth that a small remnant of God’s most faithful people will receive His protection in a place on earth that He has prepared for them. There, they will be spared the horrors of the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord.

We read that “the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days” (Revelation 12:6). In Scripture, the Church is at times pictured as a woman, as we also read in descriptions of the Church becoming the bride of Christ. But in order to receive that divine protection, Christians must be awake and alert to the prophetic signs that will show the Church that it is time to flee to that promised and prophesied place of safety.

Armageddon and Beyond

MAY WE SUGGEST?

Watch and Pray

Yes, we all need to watch for prophetic signs leading to Armageddon. The kings of the earth and their armies will gather in northern Israel to fight against the Savior, Jesus Christ, at His coming. Again, be sure to read that in Revelation 19:19. The King of kings will conquer these rebellious, oppressive nations. But how can you personally prepare for the challenging times ahead? Dear readers, will you escape Armageddon?

Notice this admonition by the Lord Jesus Christ: “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:36).

Perhaps you have not been praying; now is the time to get down on your knees and cry out to God for a change in your life. Scripture tells us how to draw close to God. “Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:6–7).

God promises to bless you and forgive you if you seek Him with your whole heart. The solution to the world’s problems lies in the future change in human nature. Beyond Armageddon, the new world government, comprised of Christ and the saints, will teach the way to peace. Yes, during the Millennium there will be a renewal of human character and the human spirit. The Kingdom of God will rule over all nations for a thousand years—and beyond. Pray for that kingdom to come soon. We look forward to the time beyond Armageddon when this prophecy will be fulfilled: “the Lord shall be King over all the earth” (Zechariah 14:9).

Yes, the Prince of Peace will return to govern the world’s nations with love and justice, guaranteeing a world of prosperity and abundant living for all peoples. Dear readers, you do not want to be among those who fight against the returning Christ! Stay close to your Savior, obey Him, and let Him guide you. If you do, you will be prepared for the challenging times just ahead of us—and protected from the terrors of Armageddon! TW

Will the years ahead bring devastation or peace? Your Bible reveals a frightening time, but ultimate hope! Request this free printed booklet from the Regional Office nearest you, or order at TomorrowsWorld.org PDF, ePub, and Kindle are also available.

London CALLING THIS IS

The Disunited Kingdom

In the late 1990s, the Labour government led by Mr. Tony Blair conducted referendums on devolution to several parts of the United Kingdom. Devolution, in the British context, refers to the transfer of certain powers and responsibilities from the central government in Westminster to regional governments, such as those in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Though the UK is united under London as its capital, it is nevertheless a nation historically composed of parts. England and Wales have been in a state of union since Tudor times, together first creating what we now call Britain.

Union with Scotland in 1707 created a new entity, Great Britain—the “Great” was not a statement about the enlarged nation’s strength or reach in the world, but simply a recognition of its enhanced size. Then came union with Ireland in 1801, leading to the creation of what was called the United Kingdom—which, after partition took effect in the 1920s, was scaled back to the six counties of Northern Ireland–Ulster.

What Tony Blair offered via those referendums was not new. Home Rule had been granted to Ireland in 1914, and continued in Northern Ireland, which had a government of its own from the 1920s onward, though it was no less a part of the UK. The Stormont in Belfast was a local Parliament for Northern Ireland, retaining powers relating to internal matters, while national issues such as defence or foreign affairs resided firmly in London under the control of the central government at Westminster. Yet, though devolution in Northern Ireland had found its rhythm for decades, it created a new dynamic when extended to new bodies in Scotland and Wales.

Seeds of Discontent

A well-established management principle tells us that inherent in any solution to one problem are the seeds of the next problem. This echoes Job’s words that “man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward” (Job 5:7). Such has indeed been a result of devolution.

The Scottish National Party has used devolution to seek not just regional, local governance, but total independence from the UK. Though a 2014 referendum in Scotland rejected the idea of independence, the majority political party in Scotland, the Scottish National Party (SNP), sees the establishment of independence for Scotland as its main goal. Operating from Holyrood in Edinburgh, the SNP has continued its push for independence even while leadership issues focused on self-interest have created instability in the party; this April, SNP leader Humza Yousaf was forced to resign after just 14 months in office.

Minister Yousaf had cited as his reasons first the needs of his party, second the needs of his government, and third the needs of Scotland—and received criticism regarding the order in which he placed those priorities. Indeed, many sense that sectional and partisan interests seem to have taken priority over national concerns. Much the same holds true in the Stormont in Northern Ireland, where its function as a parliament is hampered because of partisanship and distrust between the Unionists who wish to remain part of the UK, and the members of Sinn Fein who want Northern Ireland reunited with the Republic of Ireland, with its capital Dublin to the south. Demographic changes within Northern Ireland are trending toward a Sinn Fein majority in the state.

Disunion in England

And there is another, perhaps surprising, source of disunion emerging. Recent local body elections in England have revealed yet another sectional interest. The Labour Party has traditionally been the political choice of most of the UK’s Jewish population, and more recently has been favoured by its Muslim population (for more on Islamic influence on the UK, see our May–June 2024 article “The UK Immigration Crisis”).

Labour, which had weathered a storm over perceptions that its former leader Jeremy Corbyn is antiSemitic, has worked hard to shed that image, and has been supportive of Israel in the wake of the October 7 Hamas attack. When two local candidates in by-elections were caught on tape making statements labelled as anti-Semitic, current Labour head Keir Starmer distanced his party from those statements. Starmer’s actions, however, put his party offside with its Muslim constituents over the situation in Gaza. The local elections did not yield the victories Labour expected, as Muslim voters deserted the party and elected candidates who were sympathetic to the Palestinian cause.

Further deepening the divide, Muslim activists issued a list of 18 points that the Labour Party would need to accept to receive their support in a forthcoming general election.

Further deepening the divide, Muslim activists issued a list of 18 points that the Labour Party would need to accept to receive their support in a forthcoming general election (“Muslim group issues 18 demands for Keir Starmer to win back voters lost over Gaza,” The Independent, 7 May, 2024). These include provisions supportive of Sharia law. Echoing a common concern stemming from such developments, the left-of-centre journal New Statesman trumpeted the headline “Sectarianism has returned to England” (March 11, 2024). Its subhead reads, “The country’s silent majority is being outflanked by religious and political extremists.”

In his landmark book My Promised Land, Israeli journalist Avi Shavit concludes that his nation, though rich in valuable individualism, has lost the collective will that Israel once knew. While written of a country that is half a world away from the United Kingdom, that ob-

servation characterises so much of the Western world. The UK today is overwhelmingly driven by individual wants rather than collective needs.

The lyrics added to Elgar’s well-known Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1, played at so many graduation ceremonies, provide an insight. Written by A. C. Benson, these lyrics include the phrase, “God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet.” This highlights a key element of the loss of collective purpose. Those lyrics were penned during an age that harboured a respect for God, and that no longer has a place in our modern nations. We have become consumed by ourselves and our self-interest.

Forgotten Ideals

The Apostle Paul, writing to the evangelist Timothy, noted that in the last days, self-interest would predominate (2 Timothy 3:1–9). Paul recorded that people would be “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (v. 4). Interestingly, that is the history of the people of the UK over the past century or so. Even in Northern Ireland, which was once known for the fiery rhetoric of Protestant preachers of the likes of Ian Paisley, religion is now lost as the motivation of the Unionists. Following the example of Britain and Scotland, the search for the good life here and now is the driving force.

Speaking to the children of Israel before they crossed the River Jordan to inherit the Promised Land, Moses was inspired to warn them of a condition that can easily be applied to the UK today. If Israel forgot God, just as the UK has forgotten, specific punishments would come upon its people (Deuteronomy 28:15–68). These punishments would intensify until the nation was lost. Pointedly, Israel was warned, “The Lord will send on you cursing, confusion, and rebuke in all that you set your hand to do, until you are destroyed and until you perish quickly, because of the wickedness of your doings in which you have forsaken Me” (v. 20).

Such is the state in which the UK finds itself today—confused and cursed in everything she seeks to do. No wonder, as the UK was comprised of people whose ancestry is linked to the ancient kingdom of Israel. The UK needs to heed the warnings given to our ancestors if it wishes to remain a truly united kingdom. Peter G. Nathan

Debunking the Rapture Myth

By Wallace G. Smith

Avast portion of professing “Christianity” is obsessed with a myth—a myth that clouds their understanding of the end times, obscures many other doctrinal truths of the Bible, and provides an insidious false hope concerning the Great Tribulation and the days before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. It is a myth widely believed. I have traveled to various cities giving public Tomorrow’s World Presentations concerning the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and what to expect before Christ’s return, and some of the most common questions I have been asked have been centered around this myth.

It is about time to put the myth to rest. In this article, we will debunk the Rapture myth, straight from the pages of the Bible.

If I had a dollar for every question I’ve been asked about the Rapture, I might be able to write this article from the comfort of a limousine. When is it coming? Is it before the Great Tribulation? Is it during the Tribulation? Is it after?

At the heart of most of these questions is a more fundamental one that, sadly, I haven’t been asked nearly as often: Is the common belief in the Rapture actually biblical?

Not to give away the ending, but the short answer is, No, it is not. But if you’re tempted to stop reading now, don’t stop yet! Give us an opportunity to prove this in the pages of your own Bible.

What Is the Rapture Myth?

We should begin by being as clear as we can. Before we can address what the Bible does or does not say about the “Rapture,” we must first define what we even mean by that word—because the word rapture is used to refer to many different things.

Most use the word to indicate their belief that— before Jesus Christ returns to rule the world, and before the time of trouble and suffering known as the Great Tribulation—Christians all over the planet will be “raptured” into thin air and taken to Heaven. Those who are not Christians, according to this belief, will be shocked to see that many people have suddenly vanished without explanation; planes will plummet to earth as their Christian pilots disappear, and non-Christian husbands or wives will despair as they wonder where their Christian spouses have disappeared to. And, supposedly, as the world sorts through the mass disappearance, the Great Tribulation will be unleashed on those who are “left behind,” as the book series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins worded it. Then, three or seven years later—depending on who’s explaining—Jesus Christ will supposedly begin His reign on planet Earth.

This idea of the Rapture as a mysterious event whisking Christians away from the earth is often associated with the words of the Apostle Paul, who tells us that “the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17).

This is an important passage for those who believe in the Rapture, because in the Latin Vulgate translation of verse 17, the word translated “we shall be caught up” is rapiemur, from rapere. Thus, the “Rapture.”

But is Paul here describing what many think of as “the Rapture,” or is he talking about something else entirely?

God wants us to read His word carefully, putting the details together to get the most complete picture

we can—and doing so takes diligence. As Paul told his most famous student, the evangelist Timothy, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

Similarly, the prophet Isaiah asked, “Whom will he teach knowledge? And whom will he make to understand the message? Those just weaned from milk? Those just drawn from the breasts? For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little” (Isaiah 28:9–10).

Let’s do what God expects—let’s “rightly divide the word of truth” and put the whole of God’s word together to help us see the truth about the Rapture theory and to truly understand what to expect of the end-times.

And, since ideas differ so widely in their details concerning the Rapture and what it really means, we will focus on biblical passages that help us clarify the most common elements that are central to most people’s beliefs about the Rapture. So, as you keep reading, bear in mind these three crucial questions:

• Will Christians suddenly vanish around the world without explanation?

• Will Christians be caught up into the air years before Jesus returns?

• And will Christians spend the Great Tribulation in Heaven?

Whether the Rapture is fact or fiction hinges upon the answers to these questions. And as we look into what the Bible says will actually happen to true Christians at the return of Jesus Christ, we will see each of these questions answered clearly and simply in God’s word. When we do, we will see that the popular idea of the Rapture is nothing more than a popular myth.

Resurrection, Not “Rapture”

So, does the Bible teach that years before Jesus returns in visible glory to rule the earth, Christians around the world will vanish and secretly be carried up into Heaven right before the time of global horrors known as the Great Tribulation?

No, it doesn’t. We can begin to see this if we go back to 1 Thessalonians 4, where we read:

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:13–17).

Too many are so “enraptured” (pun intended) with seeing the Rapture in this passage that they skip right over key elements proving that Paul is not talking about their idea of a Rapture.

For instance, Paul refers to the time of the resurrection of those who have died in Christ—those he describes as “asleep”—saying, “the dead in Christ will rise first.” He also says that “the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.”

Does that really seem like a quiet, mysterious vanishing? Not at all. In fact, it seems a lot more like a triumphant event announced to the world by the returning Christ.

But personal opinion on this subject doesn’t matter—not ours, and not yours. Instead of settling for opinion, let’s see how the Bible describes this event elsewhere—as we read earlier, “precept upon precept… line upon line… here a little, there a little….” For example, the Apostle Paul describes this exact same event in another passage:

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet For the trumpet will sound, and the dead

will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality (1 Corinthians 15:50–53).

We should notice a few important details from this passage: Not only are the dead raised in incor-

MANY ARE SO “ENRAPTURED” WITH SEEING THE RAPTURE IN THIS PASSAGE THAT THEY SKIP RIGHT OVER KEY ELEMENTS PROVING THAT PAUL IS NOT TALKING ABOUT THEIR IDEA OF A RAPTURE.

ruptible glory, but the living will also be transformed at that time, just as we saw in 1 Thessalonians.

But will this be done quietly? Not according to the Bible—again, just as we saw earlier, this will happen with the sound of a mighty trumpet: “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:52).

Please read that again carefully: This will happen not just at any trumpet, but at the last trumpet. This implies that there will be a sequence of trumpets, with the resurrection and glorification of the saints occurring at the last of those trumpets.

So, we find ourselves with a question to ask: Is there any passage of Scripture that describes a series of trumpets in the end-times? If there is, then we have just identified the time of this resurrection and transformation of faithful Christians.

And the answer? Yes, in fact, the Bible does describe such a sequence of trumpets. We don’t need to guess, theorize, speculate, or debate about it, because the Bible makes it plain. And in doing so, it reveals the clear answers to our three original questions.

The Real Sequence of Events Before Christ’s Return

The book of Revelation reveals a specific sequence of events leading up to Jesus Christ’s return and the

commencement of the Kingdom of God. Revelation 6 reveals the Seven Prophetic Seals of Revelation, which the Apostle John sees in a vision, opened in order by Jesus Christ to reveal the end-time events ahead. The first four seals represent the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, symbolizing global religious deception, warfare, famine, and disease. Verse 8 says that “power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.”

The prophetic series of events continues with the fifth seal, describing a martyrdom of many true Christians. In Matthew 24:21, Jesus describes this time, saying that “then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.” This is a time so terrible that no time before nor after will ever compare.

After two-and-a-half years of this tribulation, the sixth seal will be opened, and the Heavenly Signs will take place: a great earthquake, the sun being darkened, the moon becoming as red as blood, the stars falling from the sky, and every mountain and island on earth being shaken. These announce that God is about to personally intervene in world affairs. That time is described by the prophet Isaiah as “the day of the Lord’s vengeance, the year of recompense for the cause of Zion” (Isaiah 34:8).

This year-long Day of the Lord will begin when the seventh seal of Revelation is opened. We read of this in Revelation 8:1–2: “When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.”

With this, we can see in Revelation where a sequence of trumpets appears in end-time events—exactly what Paul’s description told us to expect. After the end-time rides of the Four Horsemen, the Great Tribulation, and the Heavenly Signs, we come to the series of trumpets of which the Apostle Paul wrote.

And the first six trumpet blasts will be devastating. A third of earth’s vegetation will be burned up, a third of the seas will become blood, a third of ships

and marine life will be destroyed, a third of the planet’s waters will become bitter, and a third of the sun, moon, and stars will cease to shine. Then, in the most

WHAT DOES ALL OF THIS PROVE? THAT THERE WILL BE NO SECRET “VANISHING.” IN FACT, JESUS CHRIST PERSONALLY DESCRIBED THIS MOMENT TO HIS DISCIPLES TO MAKE THE PUBLIC

NATURE OF

THIS EVENT AS CLEAR AS CRYSTAL.

destructive military exchange in history, a third of mankind is obliterated. Scripture calls the Day of the Lord “great and very terrible” (Joel 2:11)—and does so for a reason. This year-long series of catastrophes will represent God’s wrath unleashed on unrepentant mankind. (See our article on escaping Armageddon, beginning on page 5 of this issue.)

Yet these terrors are only the first six of Seven Trumpets. The seventh and last trumpet is described in Revelation 11:15: “Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!’”

Paul writes that at this trumpet—the seventh, declaring the authority of the Kingdom of God over the world—the Resurrection will occur, as faithful Christians, past and present, are gathered, glorified with immortality, and brought to meet Christ in the air. Once they are resurrected as immortal Spirit beings, they will become His Bride, and then they will join Him in vanquishing His enemies and inaugurating the reign of God’s kingdom.

What does all of this prove? That there will be no secret “vanishing.” In fact, Jesus Christ personally described this moment to His disciples to make the public nature of this event as clear as crystal. You can read it yourself in the famous prophetic discourse Christ gave on the Mount of Olives:

Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon

will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other (Matthew 24:29–31).

Surely we can see that these passages should not be considered in isolation from each other. Their descriptions of end-time events are consistent and in perfect sequence: The Great Tribulation, the Heavenly Signs, the Seven Trumpets, Christ returning to the earth at the Last Trumpet, and the resurrection, gathering, and glorification of true Christians as the Kingdom of God commences its beautiful and healing reign.

And where will that reign begin? Not in Heaven. Rather, those glorified Christians will have been made kings and priests to their God and they shall reign on the earth (Revelation 5:10).

No one will vanish into thin air as unsaved loved ones wonder where they went. All eyes will see the return of Jesus Christ, and all ears will hear it. The “Rapture” is a tragic misunderstanding that conceals the magnificent truth of Scripture.

Who Will Be Protected During the Great Tribulation?

If you’ve been paying attention, you probably recognize that we’ve now answered our original three questions.

Will Christians vanish around the world mysteriously and without explanation? We see the answer in the pages of the Bible: No, they will not. Christians will be resurrected or changed to join their Savior at

the first resurrection—at the same time when all the tribes of the earth will see Jesus Christ returning. Will Christians be carried up into the air years before Jesus returns to rule? Again: No, they won’t. The resurrection of true Christians will occur at the very last trumpet, the seventh, when Christ will be inaugurated as Ruler of the world—only days before Satan will be bound for a thousand years, as described in Revelation 20.

Finally, will Christians spend the years of the Great Tribulation in Heaven? Again, the “Rapture” doesn’t line up with Scripture. True Christians will rise to meet Christ at the commencement of His reign, after the Tribulation. Indeed, from that moment on, they will reign alongside Him as His submissive Bride— ruling on this earth, with Him, for a thousand years.

At first, that might leave some worried: Does this mean that every Christian must go through the Great Tribulation?

No, it doesn’t. Some Christians will endure that terrible time, while others will be protected—though not by a “Rapture.” They will be protected here, on planet Earth. While God reserves many details that only He knows, He makes this plain in a number of passages.

For instance, in Revelation 12, we read of the Church in the end-times, symbolized by a woman and persecuted by the devil, who is symbolized by a dragon-like serpent. Starting in verse 14, we read that “the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.” The “time and times and half a time” are the three-and-a-half years that comprise the two-and-a-half years of the Great Tribulation and the year-long Day of the Lord we read about earlier.

This passage makes very plain that while a portion of the Church will be protected, this protection will not be in Heaven. Note that the passage says “the woman” is protected in “the wilderness”—a word that the Bible never uses to describe Heaven, but that it does use to describe locations here on Earth.

If we’re going to let God interpret His own word— which is always the best idea—then we must agree

MAY WE SUGGEST?

that some Christians will be protected during the Great Tribulation, but that their protection will not be in Heaven, as many fans of the Rapture would have us believe. That protection will be made available right here, somewhere on planet Earth.

But we should also notice that not all Christians will be protected. As we read in verse 17, “the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Yes, some Christians—“the rest of her offspring”—must endure the trials of the Great Tribulation and the anger of Satan, the devil.

The distinction—one group protected and another sent into the Tribulation—is reflected in Christ’s comments to the two prophetic end-time Churches of Revelation 3. The zealous Christians of Philadelphia are told by Jesus that He will “keep [them] from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world” (v. 10), while the lukewarm Christians of Laodicea are told that they must “buy from [God] gold refined in the fire” of persecution, and that they need His chastening (vv. 18–19).

For more on the tremendously important letters to the seven Churches of Revelation 2–3, you can read Mr. Gerald Weston’s “Seven Letters to Seven Churches” in our November–December 2023 issue, available online at TomorrowsWorld.org. The Apostle John describes Laodicean Christians who must go through the Tribulation as unable to see their need to repent and to change—they are too self-satisfied with what they think they already know and too willing to compromise their active obedience to God.

There is a reason why Jesus Christ says to all of us concerning the times to come, “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:36).

Yes, there will be protection during the climactic, earth-shattering events of the end-times—not in a “Rapture” off to Heaven, but in fact right here, somewhere on earth—for zealous, faithful Christians who are unwilling to compromise on the truth God has shown them. TW

Fourteen Signs Announcing Christ’s Return Don’t be caught unprepared—understand the earthshaking events that will precede the Second Coming! Request this free printed booklet from the Regional Office nearest you, or order at TomorrowsWorld.org PDF, ePub, and Kindle are also available.

Our Abnormal Normal

By John Robinson

Many years ago, my then-nine-year-old daughter asked me why our family was different. She had observed that we behaved differently than all the other families on our block, and she wanted to know why we were not “normal.”

Most people want to be accepted by their peers. This is a natural and powerful human trait, and it is perhaps strongest in our children. They want to be considered as a normal part of the “tribe.” Adults can mature into recognizing the value of being different, but for children this can be very difficult.

When I heard my daughter’s question, I immediately had compassion for how she felt. Having grown up in a Sabbath-keeping family, I was keenly aware from a relatively young age that I was “different” from most of the other children around me. When I started attending public school, I quickly learned that going to church on Saturday was “not normal.” For most of my schoolmates, “church” automatically meant Sunday, not Saturday.

Nor was it “normal” that our family did not observe Christmas (a holiday not found in the Bible, as readers of this magazine will recognize; if you would like to learn more, read our free booklet The Holy Days: God’s Master Plan). Nor was slipping away in late September or early October to spend eight days with my family at something called the “Feast of Tabernacles.” To me, the Feast was wonderful. But, to

my classmates, it just sounded strange—maybe even dangerous.

Because of the seventh-day Sabbath, I never played in Little League games on Saturday. For the same reason, I would not go to Friday night football games. Yet these activities seemed nothing but “normal” to my schoolmates.

Looking back, though, when I consider how drastically American society has changed over the last 30 or 40 years, I realize that my classmates and I took a lot for granted; much that we all considered “normal” back then is far from normal today.

The “New Normal”

When I was a teenager, single-parent families were becoming more common, but nobody seriously questioned the ideal of the intact two-parent family, headed by a father and a mother. Today, however, people who see themselves as champions of social justice are trying to push a new agenda—to impose a “new normal” on society.

You do not need to just take my word for this. Look at prime-time television, for example. Modern Family, for eleven seasons (2009–2020), portrayed a homosexual couple raising children as if this were a praiseworthy lifestyle choice. There was even a short-lived 2012 series on NBC, The New Normal, that epitomized so much of the problem. The series was billed as a comedy, but think about its premise: Two homosexual men and a surrogate mother decide they are a family. One of their children has “two daddies”

and a surrogate mother; the other has two adoptive fathers, plus an absent Dad we never see. In the midst of this, the series featured one character, the grandmother, whom NBC publicists called “small-minded” for espousing values that most of society would have taken for granted just a generation before.

This “comedy” poked fun at biblical family values while promoting the idea that people can define family in any way they like. Such an assault on the family is not funny. Yet, a decade later, it is all too common. With all of this in mind, I was able to help my daughter understand the consequences of being “normal” in today’s society. Even on our little street, it was normal for the neighbor children to be missing a parent through divorce or abandonment. It was normal for kids to be running around late at night, unsupervised, getting into all sorts of trouble because there was not a mother, father, or grandparent who cared enough about what their children were doing.

Some may be surprised to learn that God foresaw this problem long ago. He inspired the Apostle Paul to write a letter to the young minister Timothy, describing the conduct that would be considered “normal” in the years leading up to Jesus Christ’s return. Ask yourself how well this describes the typical attitudes around us today:

But know this, that in the last days perilous [dangerous or “difficult,” New English Translation] times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form [“appearance,” English Standard Version] of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away (2 Timothy 3:1–5).

Paul understood that, in the last days, people would be selfish and arrogant, quick to brag about their importance. Children would be disrespectful to parents. People would not show gratitude and would be unthankful for the good things in their lives. They would lack self-control and be very proud of themselves.

In summary, they would love only themselves, and would create a society in which outflowing Christian love and obedience to God would be absolutely abnormal. To desire the label of “normal” in our day is to desire to be the kind of person that most of us, if we are honest with ourselves, do not like to be with.

The Real Normal

In this current age, it is not normal to keep the seventh-day Sabbath or observe the Feast of Tabernacles and the other annual Holy Days. It is not normal to strive to obey God and live by the example Jesus Christ set for His followers. But in the very near future, this world is going to change dramatically.

God inspired the prophet Isaiah to record a wonderful prophecy: “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever” (Isaiah 9:6–7). Notice also these words from Zechariah: “And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles” (14:16).

Together, these Scriptures paint a wonderful picture: God will soon rule the whole world, and He will expect everyone to do as He says. Observing His weekly and annual Sabbaths may not seem normal to most people today, but the time is soon coming when all nations will keep the Feast of Tabernacles, the seventh-day Sabbath, and all of God’s laws, which Jesus Christ came not to abolish, but to fulfill (Matthew 5:17). Selfish human attributes will be replaced by humility, respect, thankfulness, and courtesy to our neighbors.

Those who have chosen now to go against what is considered normal—including the observance of God’s seventh-day Sabbath and Holy Days—are in the vanguard of those teaching humanity what is truly normal. So, I urge you to ask God to give you the courage and the strength to go against the grain, resist conforming to what this world considers normal, and instead start living now the way of life that God considers normal. TW

THE WRESTLING MATCH THAT CHANGED HISTORY

One man’s ancient determination still resonates throughout the modern world.

Wrestling is a fascinating sport involving physical strength, skill, and tenacity, as combatants strive to

“pin” their opponents. Professional wrestling has enjoyed popularity for generations, and it garnered over a billion dollars in revenue in 2023. This form of wrestling has been considered entertainment rather than a sport, but collegiate wrestling is a legitimate sport overseen by the NCAA; 395 colleges across the United States participate in it, and it is a popular event in the Olympic Games.

While the display of skill in such athletics absorbs the attention of millions, most people are unaware of a wrestling contest that occurred long ago in ancient Edom. Jacob, the son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham, was returning to his homeland as a wealthy man with family, flocks, and herds after sojourning with his father-in-law, Laban, for 20 years. On this journey, he expected to encounter his brother, Esau, from whom he was estranged because of a controversy involving his birthright, which Esau believed Jacob to have stolen from him (Genesis 25:29–34).

In response, Jacob implemented a plan to placate his brother and protect his family (Genesis 32:3–23; 33:1–2). After Jacob sent his family and servants away, his story took a most interesting turn:

Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” So He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob.” And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.” And He said, “Why is it that you ask about My name?” And He blessed him there. So Jacob called

the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved” (vv. 24–30).

From this point onward, the name of Israel features prominently in Scripture. God worked with Jacob/Israel, and the descendants of his twelve sons became the nation of Israel, chosen by God to be an example to the world of His way of life.

Promises That Apply Today

Why would God “wrestle” with Jacob? He explains: “I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give to every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings” (Jeremiah 17:10). Why? Because “whom the Lord loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights” (Proverbs 3:12).

Jacob had endured physical trials and tests. Then, at this vulnerable moment in his life, came a struggle with God. This symbolically revealed his persistent character, which God would use in carrying out His plan for humanity.

All of this was part of God’s promise to righteous Abraham: “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you: and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:2–3).

Scripture tells the story of God’s interaction with Israel and the events that led up to the birth of Jesus Christ as the Savior of mankind. The physical contest in the wilderness between Jacob and the One who became the Messiah was a momentous event in establishing Israel as the instrument God would use to carry out His plan.

Nations are families grown great. The nations that now occupy the Middle East are among the descendants of those ancient families, whose conflicts and controversies continue down to the present day. These intractable problems will not be solved until Jesus Christ returns in power and glory as the King of kings and Prince of peace to establish His kingdom.

—J. Davy Crockett III

Grow Something

Technology has made our lives more comfortable, convenient, and pain-free than ever before. We marvel at the power of virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and a seemingly limitless flow of information—literally at our fingertips! Yet many are alarmed at our society’s growing disconnection from the natural world. Many of us live, work, and play in a world of endless screen interactions. As technology advances, that disconnection will only increase.

Yet, at the most fundamental level, we as human beings are truly part of the creation—the world of seeds, plants, and dirt. Even the word “humanity” has echoes of our origins, as it is derived from the Latin root humanus, which comes from a word meaning literally “earthly being” (“human (adj.),” Online Etymology Dictionary, December 18, 2023), and humus refers to “the dark organic material in soils” (“humus,” Dictionary.com). Mankind was created by the Eternal God with the potential to live forever. We live as “clay models” and this earth is our training ground to prepare for that destiny (2 Corinthians 5:1). And the very first job given to our forefather Adam was to “tend and keep” a part of the earth (Genesis 2:15).

There are real and practical benefits for you and your family to enjoy by making living, growing things a part of your life. What are some of the benefits of cultivating a lifestyle that involves caring for plants? Consider the following.

It’s Good for Your Health

The physical benefits of working outdoors in a vegetable or flower garden are obvious: walking, bending, lifting, and moving. But it’s also good for our mental

well-being. Dr. Charles Hall, Ph.D., professor at Texas A&M University, has done extensive research on how plants and gardening can improve both physical and mental health. He presented it in an article published in the Journal of Environmental Horticulture. Here are some of the positive effects Dr. Hall identified with growing things:

• Anxiety and stress reduction

• Attention deficit recovery

• Decreased depression

• Enhanced memory retention

• Improved happiness and life satisfaction

• Mitigation of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

• Increased creativity, productivity, and attention

• Reduced effects of dementia

• Enhanced self-esteem

(“The positive effects of gardening on mental health,” AgriLifeToday.TAMU.edu, April 25, 2022).

But you don’t even have to go outside to reap the positive effects of growing plants. Inside plants can create the same benefits, as described in the Healthline.com article “A Hobby for All Seasons: 7 Science-Backed Benefits of Indoor Plants,” which states, “Indoor gardening relieves stress, boosts creativity, productivity, and focus, and promotes recovery. There’s some evidence that houseplants may positively influence the air quality in your home as well…. Sharing your living or working space with living, ‘breathing’ plant life can make your environment a happier, healthier place to be.”

Are you and your family stressed? Anxious? Why not work a little caring for greenery into your life? In an age of anxiety, growing greenery is soothing and calming.

It Can Save You Money

We all must eat—so why not try your hand at growing plants that provide food for you and your household? When you consider the cost savings from growing a simple tomato, it’s shocking how much you can save by growing it yourself. A tomato plant may cost several times the cost of one tomato—but if that plant can produce a couple dozen tomatoes, you’ll recoup the higher cost many times over!

And if you plant seeds, you can grow literally hundreds of tomatoes for less than the cost of one tomato plant! You can lower the cost even more if you buy “heirloom” seeds, which can be dried and saved from year to year and stored for a future season.

As inflation eats into your household’s budget, growing your own food—even a small amount—can reap big financial benefits for you and your family.

In Touch with the Miraculous

Growing things also gives us the beautiful opportunity to witness the miracle of life itself. Think about it: Has any man-made invention ever come close to the “high-tech” capacities of the common seed? That seed—be it of a tomato plant, a zinnia flower, or a towering, majestic Ponderosa pine tree—has all the genetic code locked into it to reproduce the same kind of plant it came from. And often, given the right conditions, seeds may lie dormant, “storing” that valuable data for weeks, months, or years. Some seeds are even thousands of years old, and still grow (“Scientists in Israel grow date plants from 2,000-year-old seeds,” The Guardian, February 5, 2020)!

What an astounding miracle! And we can witness it ourselves, just by planting a seed in a cup with dirt, watering it, and placing it on a sunny windowsill. If you have children, do this with them. Teach them about the creation. Explain where they themselves came from—not from slime, but made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26; 2:7). And then let them plant a seed, water it, and be amazed when it emerges a few days later! It’s a powerful testimony to the living quality of God’s creation, of which we are all a part.

Children can come to see for themselves that evolutionary theory is no match for reality—the grandeur and power of God.

A Real Connection to the Real World

In recent years, online farming simulations such as FarmVille, Hay Day, and Harvest Honors have become big business—to the point that, in 2023, the “global farming game market” was valued at over $370 million (“Farming Game Market,” Econ Market Research, February 2024). Kermit Ball, community coordinator for Giants Software, describes the appeal of his company’s Farming Simulator:

You can relax and chat with friends while playing, but you can also never run out of tasks…. So many people talk about the calming nature of just working away at your fields. It’s a game you can truly get lost in. You start playing and working on your fields while listening to the sounds of farm equipment and nature combined and it kind of chills you out, then hours pass by without you even noticing (“Coziness, control, and crops: Farming simulators are the ultimate escapism,” Digital Trends, August 20, 2022).

Clearly, our children can be easily motivated to play games of virtual farming. Why not encourage them to try the real thing—grow a real tomato, a real flower— all while touching, smelling, and feeling the creation?

We as Christians await Jesus Christ’s soon-coming millennial reign, where “everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid” (Micah 4:4). Does this mean everyone will be a farmer? Not likely. But it describes a deep connection to the land—the end of sterile environments that foster worry and discontent.

Picturing the coming Kingdom of God should give us a glimpse of how we can improve our lives today, even just a little bit. Most of us can introduce a few more living plants—a foretaste of the Millennium—into our lives even now. For the sake of your health, your family’s health, your finances, and your relationship with your Creator, consider making some living greenery even more a part of your life. Grow something! Rod McNair

Europe Preparing for World War III

Tomorrow’s World has long warned that Europe and Germany would shift into war-production mode, becoming the military and economic powerhouse known in the Bible as “the beast.” For decades, this warning has appeared farfetched to many—but that is changing. With the increasing “Russian threat” on Europe’s border, Germany has been forced to move into a mindset of war preparation.

In January, 300 experts visited Berlin at the request of the Bundeswehr (German Foreign Policy, February 20, 2024) to explore coordinating military and civil actions in the event of war on the continent. Germany’s Operationsplan Deutschland sets out actions needed for the “militarisation of German society as a whole,” and this recent meeting occurred in accordance with that plan. Should war break out, all elements of German society must be able to work together. Germany has greatly increased military spending, is exporting more military hardware, and broke ground last month on a new artillery shell factory (Deutsche Welle, February 12, 2024). Germany’s education minister has even suggested that schools should prepare pupils for war and foster a positive relationship with the armed forces (Deutsche Welle, March 17, 2024).

However, Germany is not alone in preparing for war. In a recent op-ed, European

Council President Charles Michel said that “Europe must strengthen its defence capabilities and shift to a ‘war economy’ mode in response to the threat posed by Russia” (Reuters, March 18, 2024). He clearly warned, “If we want peace, we must prepare for war.” He also suggested changing the rules of the European Investment Bank to allow for the support of the European defense industry.

Germany and Europe are on the threshold of significant changes. War rhetoric is returning, the engine of the military industrial complex is rumbling, and Bible prophecy is proving accurate yet again.

Weeds Are Taking Over

Continuing research is demonstrating that farmers in the Great Plains of the United States—America’s “breadbasket”—are losing the battle against weeds (Reuters, January 16, 2024). Once-powerful herbicides are increasingly less effective. Twenty-one weed species globally are already “showing resistance to dicamba, the most recent major U.S. [weed-killing] chemical, which launched in 2017,” and even the active chemical in the “all powerful” Roundup weed-killer is losing its effectiveness. The large herbicide producers have reduced their research and development in recent years—coming out with fewer new products. One relatively new weed, kochia, can spread up to 30,000 seeds

per plant, cutting crop yields “by up to 70 percent if left unchecked.” All of this is occurring at a time when fertilizers are becoming more expensive and weather is becoming more erratic.

While many factors influence the advance of weeds among farm crops, one factor is consistently overlooked by scientists and even most farmers. The God of the Bible once warned the Israelite peoples that “it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you” (Deuteronomy 28:15). Those curses strongly correlate to what we see today: “Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the country. Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. Cursed shall be the fruit of your body and the produce of your land” (vv. 16–18). Today, as the predominantly Israelite-descended nations of the world reject God’s laws and ways, they are reaping the curses that God prophesied would come.

Grim Future for British Boys

In recent decades, school curricula have been deliberately changed to be more “girl friendly.” These major efforts have aimed at narrowing the supposed “pay gap” between men and women. Scholarships have been established to boost

female university participation. Women’s health is often prioritized in policymaking. Some governments, like that of Great Britain, even have a “Minister for Women.” One of the casualties of this one-sided effort is that boys and men are failing abysmally.

As the Sunday Telegraph announced, boys in Britain are facing a “grim future” (The Telegraph, March 31, 2024). For decades in the developed world, women have graduated from university at far higher rates than men. Boys’ standardized test scores are significantly lower than those of girls, and men are dropping out of the workforce at record levels. Despite these alarming statistics, few seem to care. Why are boys and men stuck in this downward spiral while girls and women are constantly improving? Some suggest that boys’ failure in school leads them to expect to underperform in the workplace. Andy Eadie, assistant headteacher at Cardinal Langley school in Rochdale, UK, observed that many teachers “write off” boys when they enter the classroom—and thus make no effort to help them succeed. Low expectations can also breed low performance, and the increasing number of boys growing up in homes without fathers means many young men have no role models for success.

While the model of the intact family, with a married father and mother, has been devalued and put down for

decades, even secular research has concluded that children from intact families are more successful and healthier than those from single-parent homes. This principle is clear in the Bible as well; God created the first family with both a mother and a father. As our civilization experiments with novel social roles and politically driven values, our children—and, ultimately, society as a whole—suffer the consequences.

Rejecting God and Killing the Elderly

In a recent opinion piece for The Telegraph, author Tim Stanley asked a probing question: “But what happens to a society, many of whose laws are based upon the Ten Commandments, when the vast majority of citizens no longer believe in the teachings of Moses or St Paul?” (March 31, 2024). Stanley went on to make clear that laws treating human life as sacred and a culture that supports the heroic

efforts of the medical profession to preserve life emanate from a foundation influenced by the Ten Commandments and other biblical principles. Yet, today, as we see the Ten Commandments and other Scripture increasingly excised from society, life is becoming a mere commodity.

Stanley’s comments were in response to an article by former legislator and political commentator Matthew Parris, who outlined a rationale for terminating the lives of the elderly once they become an economic burden on society— likening them to commodities that outlive their usefulness (The Times, March 29, 2024). Parris states that, eventually, suicide will “be seen as a normal road for many to take, and considered socially responsible—and even, finally, urged upon people,” and he calls that “a good thing.”

However, the Bible defines murder as sin (Exodus 20:13) and human life as sacred, made in God’s own image

(Genesis 1:26–27). In fact, Christians are told plainly that their bodies are not their own, contrary to popular belief (1 Corinthians 6:19). With this perspective, taking our own life is also clearly murder—a sin. Yet this moral position means nothing to most people when the Bible is no longer considered a foundation for morality.

As Tim Stanley noted in the conclusion of his essay, “In an atheistic culture, beyond the here and now, there is little to live for—and when the here and now become unbearable, nowhere to turn but death.”

The title of his article is chillingly true: “An age that rejects God ends up killing its old.” When it comes to life and death, our post-modern societies are becoming brutal—just as was prophesied (2 Timothy 3:1–4).

You Can Learn Happiness

Many people believe that you are lucky if you are happy, or that those who claim to be happy are not being honest. But are those conclusions true?

The University of Bristol in England has offered a course entitled “Science of Happiness” since 2018 (StudyFinds.org, March 12, 2024). The course reviews the latest research on happiness and encourages students to put this research into practice in their lives. Recently, researchers published a study of students taking the class. According to the results, “Students who took the hap-

piness course reported a 10 to 15 percent improvement in well-being. However, only those who continued implementing what they learned during the course reported sustained improved well-being upon being surveyed again two years later.” As one professor observed, “Much of what we teach revolves around positive psychology interventions that divert your attention away from yourself, by helping others, being with friends, gratitude or meditating…. This is the opposite of the current ‘selfcare’ doctrine, but countless studies have shown that getting out of our own heads… gets us away from negative ruminations which can be the basis of so many mental health problems.” It appears that to truly become and remain happy, we must make certain intentional decisions and follow a proven path.

It should not be surprising that modern research has found that what makes us happiest is focusing on serving and helping others instead of focusing on ourselves, and being grateful for what we have instead of obsessing over what we do not have. These are ancient truths. Two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ taught, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35), and commanded through the Apostle Paul that we “in everything give thanks” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). God knows the keys to being happy, and He shares them with us in the Bible. TW

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Just saying things “demand” something isn’t proof. Saying “Creation demands a Creator” is flawed when we see nature handle itself every day. A tree grows naturally

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Rain falls naturally. So for you just to say, Well, since it’s raining, it demands a rainmaker, isn’t proof. Try again. I’m really looking for an answer, but this has done little to answer my questions.

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Editor’s Note: Where did the matter of this universe—rain or otherwise—come from? And the laws that govern it? The fairy tale that an orderly, coordinated creation in which a seed can grow into a tree—with all the virtual nanotechnology such an undertaking requires—exists apart from a Creator behind that creation is one of the great deceptions of the modern age and hard to shake. To explore the topic in more depth, we recommend our free booklet The Real God: Proofs and Promises, available online at TomorrowsWorld.org or at any of our Regional Offices, listed on page 4 of this issue.

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Television Log

AUSTRALIA

Nationwide

St.

Kingston

NEW ZEALAND  Nationwide

KECY (CW) SU 9:00 a.m.

CA Bakersfield KGET (CW) SU 8:00 a.m.

Chico KHSL (CW) SU 8:00 a.m.

El Centro KECY (CW) SU 9:00 a.m.

Eureka KECA-LD/KVIQ (CW) SU 8:00 a.m.

Monterey KION (CW) SU 8:00 a.m.

Palm Springs KCWQ (CW) SU 8:00 a.m.

Salinas KION (CW) SU 8:00 a.m.

San Francisco BAVC (Public Access) WE 8:00 a.m.

San Luis Obispo KSBY (CW) SU 8:00 a.m.

Santa Barbara KSBY (CW) SU 8:00 a.m.

Santa Maria KSBY (CW) SU 8:00 a.m.

CO Grand Junction KJCT (CW) SU 7:00 a.m.

CT Hartford WWLP (CW) SU 8:00 a.m.

DC Washington DC WDCA SU 7:30 a.m.

DE Harrington WMDT (CW) SU 8:00 a.m.

FL Ft. Lauderdale WBFS SU 6:30 a.m.

Gainesville WCJB SU 6:00 a.m.

Gainesville WCJB (CW) SU 8:00 a.m.

Jacksonville WCWJ SU 6:30 a.m.

Miami WBFS SU 6:30 a.m.

Panama City WJHG (CW) SU 7:00 a.m.

Tallahassee WTLF SU 8:00 a.m.

Tampa Bay WTOG SU 8:00 a.m.

GA Albany WALB (CW) SU 8:00 a.m.

Albany WALB SU 11:00 a.m.

Atlanta WATL SU 10:00 a.m.

Augusta WAGT (CW) SU 8:00 a.m.

Columbus WLTZ (CW) SU 8:00 a.m.

Macon WMAZ SU 8:00 a.m.

Savannah WSAV SU 8:00 a.m.

Thomasville WTLF (CW) SU 8:00 a.m.

IA Ottumwa KWOT SU 8:00 a.m.

ID Boise KBOI SU 7:00 a.m.

Idaho Falls KIFI SU 7:00 a.m.

Twin Falls KMVT SU 7:00 a.m.

IL Chicago WJYS SU 8:00 a.m.

Chicago WJYS SU 8:30 a.m.

Peoria WHOI SU 7:00 a.m.

Quincy WGEM SU 7:00 a.m.

IN Evansville WTVW SU 7:30 a.m.

Fort Wayne WPTA SU 7:00 a.m.

Fort Wayne WPTA SU 7:30 a.m.

Lafayette WLFI SU 8:00 a.m.

KS Kansas City KCWE SU 7:30

Presque Isle WBPQ

MI Alpena WBAE

Lansing WLAJ

Lansing WLAJ SU 11:00 a.m.

Calumet WBKP SU 8:00 a.m.

MN Cloquet KDLH (CW) SU 8:00 a.m.

Duluth KDLH SU 8:00 a.m.

Mankato KMNF/KEYC (CW) SU 9:00 a.m.

Rochester KTTC SU 7:00 a.m.

MO Columbia KOMU SU 7:00 a.m.

Joplin KFJX SU 8:30 a.m.

Kansas City KCWE SU 7:30 a.m.

St. Joseph KNPG SU 7:00 a.m.

St. Louis KPLR SU 6:30 a.m.

MS Biloxi WXXV SU 7:00 a.m.

Columbus WCBI SU 7:00 a.m.

Greenwood WBWO SU 7:00 a.m.

Hattiesburg WHLT/WXXX SU 7:00 a.m.

Meridian WTOK SU 7:00 a.m.

MT Billings KVSI/NSVI (CW) SU 7:00 a.m.

Butte KCWB (CW) SU 7:00 a.m.

Butte KXLF SU 7:00 a.m.

Glendive KWZB SU 7:00 a.m.

Great Falls KCWG (CW) SU 7:00 a.m.

Helena KTVH SU 7:00 a.m.

Missoula KCWM (CW) SU 7:00 a.m.

NC Asheville WGGS SU 9:30 a.m.

Asheville WGGS SU11:30 a.m.

Charlotte WAXN SU 9:00 a.m.

Charlotte WMYT SU 8:30 a.m.

Charlotte WMYT SU 10:30 a.m.

Greenville WNCT SU 8:00 a.m.

Hickory WHKY MO 7:30 p.m.

Raleigh WRAZ SU 7:30 a.m.

Willmington WWAY SU 8:00 a.m.

ND Bismarck KXMA (CW2) SU 7:00 a.m.

Fargo KJXB (CW) SU 7:00 a.m.

Williston KXMD SU 7:00 a.m.

NM Albuquerque KWBQ SU 8:00 a.m.

NV Reno KOLO SU 7:00 a.m.

NY Binghamton WBNG SU 8:00 a.m.

Brooklyn BRIC SU 7:00 p.m.

Brooklyn BRIC MO 12:30 a.m.

Elmira WENY SU 8:00 a.m.

Watertown WWTI SU 7:00 a.m.

Utica KYWKTV SU 8:00 a.m.

OH Cincinnati WSTR SU 9:00 a.m.

Cleveland WUAB SU 8:30 a.m.

Columbus WOCB/WXC/WGCT/WQIZ SU 8:00 a.m.

Toledo BBCA SU 7:30 p.m.

Zanesville WBZV SU 8:00 a.m.

OK Ada KTEN SU 7:00 a.m.

Lawton KAUZ SU 7:00 a.m.

Tulsa KQCW

Lake

Monroe

New

Electronic Service Requested

Upcoming Telecasts

Do You Fear God?

Does God have any meaning in your life? What does it mean to fear Him—and to love Him?

June 27–July 3

Debunking the Rapture Myth

The “secret rapture” idea is only centuries old, and God’s actual plan is far more wonderful!

July 4–10

Are You Saved or Lost?

Has Jesus Christ saved you from sin? Have you responded to His call? You need to be sure!

July 11–17

The Mark of the Beast: A Clever Counterfeit

Millions of people today already bear the mark of the prophesied Beast, yet don’t even know it!

July 18–24

How Great Nations Die

Ancient Rome rose and fell. Britain has lost its empire. Will the United States soon decline?

July 25–31

Keys to Understanding Bible Prophecy Is Scripture puzzling and confusing to you? Learn principles to help you make sense of it!

August 1–7

Schedule subject to change

TOMORROW’S WORLD

Bible Study Course

Learn exciting and inspiring truths from your Bible, absolutely free!

Order at TWBibleCourse.org or from the Regional Office nearest you! The Tomorrow’s World Bible Study Course can be taken by mail or online.